Moving your checking account to a new bank

Switching banks

Like karaoke night at your favorite bar, new banking fees have a way of making even longtime customers head for the exits.

A September 2012 poll conducted as part of Bankrate's Financial Security Index found that 72 percent of Americans would consider bolting from their bank if slapped with new checking account fees.

But saying you'll leave your bank over higher fees and actually doing it are two different things. Many bank customers take advantage of a number of services offered by banks these days, including direct deposit and automatic bill pay, which complicate the process of switching banks.

To combat this, many banks and credit unions offer "switch kits" to help speed the process along, but you'll still have a fair amount of legwork to do before you can say goodbye to your old bank.

To simplify things, here's a step-by-step guide to help you tie up all the loose ends that can come with taking your checking account business elsewhere.

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